American Gov. Unit 1 Quiz

Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes

He saw what happened when government or church had no control; described this as the state of nature which was “ solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. AS an escape from this people would enter into a social contract an agreement to surrender some of their individual freedom to a sovereign power in exchange for peace and security. He believed a sovereign power should have absolute and undivided power

Philosophy of John Locke

He was the optimist, rejected the idea of absolutism. Belief that a government should be structured to protect individual rights, consent of the governed, limited gov., separation of powers, A duty of revolution. He wanted protection for individual rights to life, liberty and property

Philosophy of John Stuart Mill

Centers on utilitarianism and individual liberty. The harm principle

Definition of Politics

A method by which differing interests, ideas, values, or beliefs, between one or more members of a group can be decided upon.

Purpose of Politics

Distributive and corrective justice, practical wisdom, sense of shared good-will, courage, temperance and moderation

Government

A system by which an organized community, like a state or nation, is led and controlled.

Classical Liberalism

Protecting individual liberty, “my rights only end where your begin”

Philosophy of Sire Bernard Crick

Alternative to violence and corecion, ethics done in public, requires acceptance of diversity and conflict, “art of the possible”, a defense to “anti-politics”, a good politics is a virtue, destroyed by extremes

Ideologies

A certain ethical set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of social movement, institution, class.

Philosophy of Aristotle

When ethical values are projected well, they are able to strike a balance, making them advantageous.

American view towards politics

Overwhelming, Distrust, Dividing, Stressful

Rule of Law

The principle that a nation should be governed by law, not by arbitrary will of individuals.

Rule of Man

Power is vested in an individual or small group, and n their will is effectively the law.

Liberalism

Allowing individuals to create wealth and porsper

Central Questions about politics

Individual rights vs. The needs of the community

The harm principle

Society can only rightfully interfere with an individuals liberty to prevent that individual from harming others

Philosophy of Robert Nozik

Minimal State:

Primacy of individual rights

The Night Watchmen state(i.e. protect citizens from force, theft and fraud, administer courts of law)

Rejection of redistribution

Entitlement theory of justice

Philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Concept of the “general will”, individual freedom is realized by participating in and abiding by the general will.

Modern Liberalism

What is political science?

The study of politics, government, and public policy, both in the U.S. and around the world. The study of Power.

The definition of a state

A polity that maintains a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence (coercion). A distinct set of political institutions that exercise authority over a defined territory and its population, often with a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.

The Westphalia in treaties

Established the principle of state sovereignty. The idea that if each ruler could decide the religion of their own state their own state the primary cause of the war would be eliminated. Each state has independent , exclusive, and absolute authority within its own borders.

Sovereignty

The ultimate authority, the power of a state to govern itself without external interference.

Internal: Highest authority within the borders

External: right to act independently and enter relations with other states

A nation

a group of people who share common characteristics such as language, culture, history, ethnicity, or religion, and who typically identify with each other as belonging to the same community. Primarily a cultural-social concept based on shared identity.

A mulitcultural state

A state acknowledged and accommodates cultural diversity within a shared civic framework. Typically through policies that protect minority rights while promoting integration around common civic values and institutions.

Nation State

A nation largely coincide with the boundaries of the state.

Multinational state

A state that contains multiple distinct nations or ethnic groups within its borders, each maintaining their separate identities while being governed by a single political authority

The concept of a dual state

A framework for understanding how seemingly stable regimes maintains power through a fractured legal system.

Artificial State

Political borders do not align with national or ethnic divisions. Often created by external powers. Can lead to internal conflict.

Organizational forms of governements

Federal Form, unitary Form, Confederation Form

Regime types

Democracy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, Oligarchy

Politcal economies

The relationship between government and markets.

Capitalism

Socialism

Communism

Marxism

Neoliberalism

Champions Free market, free trade. Limited governement interference

Republicanism

Citizen duties for the common good. Prioritizes community over individual

Almond and Vera’s concept of civic culture

A stale democracy is most likely to emerge from a “civic culture” - a mixed fusion of three types of citizens.

Daniel Glazer’s concept of political culture and socialization

The particular pattern of orientation to political action in which each political system is embedded.

Political socialization

Personal and group experiences over time, modify viewpoints of values beliefs in concepts.

Politcal Ideology

A set of ethical ideals or principles that explain how society should work and provide a blueprint for a social order.

Political Partisanship

A strong loyalty or dedication to a political party, often with negative view of the opposition.

Public Political Opinion

What people think about matter of public debate that have significant implications for society.

Allegiant Citizen

Trusts institutions and leaders

Obeys the law and participates primarily through voting

Believes the system works and is willing to accept decisions they don’t agree with

Assertive Citizen

More distrustful of political institutions, parties, and representatives

More willing to directly challenge leaders with demands

Affective polarization

Leads to a strong emotional dislike or even hatred of the political “out-group”, which is more powerful than “in-party”.